Leishman chips in $56,000 for Peter's Project

A DONATION of nearly $56,000 from Warrnambool international golfer Marc Leishman is the latest in a number of donations and events getting Peter’s Project closer to its $5 million fund raising target.

Leishman, 30, this week announced a gift of $50,000 in United States currency, which equates to about $55,833 in Australian dollars.

The donation was one of three the PGA winner announced on Tuesday, with another $15,000 going to Warrnambool’s Lyndoch Living aged care centre and $15,000 to the Andrew Love Cancer Centre in Geelong.

Leishman’s father, Paul, said the family was among many to have been affected by cancer.

Both of Marc’s grandparents died from cancer and an uncle was undergoing cancer treatment, he said.

Another recent donor was Mick Macklin from South West Sheds & Homes, who donated $5000.

Mr Macklin said the donation was in memory of his mother who died from cancer about 12 months ago.

He said his experience had made him very aware of how the lives of local people receiving cancer treatment, and those of their loved ones, were disrupted by having to travel to Geelong for treatment.

Peter’s Project, which aims to raise funds for a radiotherapy centre in Warrnambool, would alleviate a lot of that disruption, he said.

The project’s coffers were also boosted recently with a donation of $1000 from the 2014 Koroit Sheep Dog Trials and one of its supporters.

Further contributions are expected from a swag of events coming up in recent weeks. Among them is a foreshore walkathon in Warrnambool on March 16 being organised by Woolworths stores in the south-west and Ballarat.

Woolworths Dennington store manager Linda Carmody said the walkathon, called “The Walk for Kids,” would start at the Warrnambool breakwater and go to Granny’s Grave and return.

Participants can register on the day and are asked to make a $10 donation.

Children can take part without a donation.

Ms Carmody said Peter’s Project was one of four community organisations that would benefit from the money raised.

She said the public was already supporting the event by buying $2 tokens displayed on the windows of Woolworths stores.

Also on March 16, a Terang social group will hold a get-together with the proceeds going to Peter’s Project.

Group spokesperson Alison Kenna said group members would meet in a private home and donate $20 to the project.

A golf day to be held by Warrnambool Toyota on March 21 at the Warrnambool golf course will also raise funds for Peter’s Project. The ambrose event will be preceded by a gourmet barbecue at 11.30am with tee-off at 12.30pm.